I've cut the tips for the salad (7)
I believe the answer is:
endives
'for the salad' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'i've cut the tips' is the wordplay.
'cut' means one lot of letters goes inside another (some letters cut their way into a word).
'the tips' becomes 'ends' (I've seen this in another clue).
'ive' put within 'ends' is 'ENDIVES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for endives that I've seen before include "Plants related to chicory, used in salads" , "Herbs" , "'I'd seven plants, in a salad say (7)'" .)